how to surf

acts of fear

constant trust in the power of prayer

Having the great good fortune of living in Hawai’i, the ocean is a source of great comfort and support. And yet I’ve been in the ocean only twice since I last wrote you. That’s only two times in over a month; that’s highly unusual. And yet I’ve been surfing this whole time. 

Surfing for me is riding the wild waves of a lifey life. It’s knowing which ones will be challenging, yet fun, and which ones do I need to dive under and regain my breath as soon as possible. Lately there’s been some big waves. Personally, we’ve had 2 deaths in the family and prolonged sickness. 

But I rise. Each day. Like a wave. Like a sunrise. Sometimes with gentle grace and rainbows; sometimes with turbulence and obscuration. Always with the presence of the higher power. Don’t forget gravity!

And I surf the waves. Surfing is prayer. Prayer is chanting. Prayer is asking for guidance to be okay in this moment, no matter what, and remember that presence matters and awareness of breath strengthens presence. 

How do I surf when life keeps getting super lifey? I relax and take it easy. I cease fighting anyone or anything. And in turning my life over to a higher power, I find the ability to surf the emotional waves of life without drowning in overwhelm. Breathing and cultivating gratitude are my daily practices.

I’ve learned from Hawai’i lifeways and Mary Kawena Pukui that the Hawaiian has continued to pray in the same wholehearted spirit of his ancestors. With deep devotion. With lively fervor. With constant trust in the power of prayer to ease the burden and enhance the beauty of daily life. 

This inspires me. 

Chanting as a Spiritual Practice


My Buddhist practice includes a chant of aspiration and dedication of merit. 

From the stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness, and death, from the ocean of samsara, may I free all beings.

Buddhist chants, Hawaiian chants, Yoga chants; vital aspects of my spiritual life, an energetic exchange to my higher powers. To give breath as a sacrifice and an offer of my willingness and eagerness to live a more spiritual life. 

Last time I wrote you I included a beautiful Kundalini yoga chant, Akaal, I play daily that has helped hugely with the recent death of my in-laws. Akaal means “Undying” and refers to the soul that is being released. This sound current helps guide the soul to pass out of the earthly realm…

I pray with faith in the constant power of prayer to ease the burden and enhance the beauty of daily life. And from this place of energetic aliveness, I pour into others. My purpose is to be of maximum service and help others liberate from their own suffering, and one key way I do this is in my work with couples and their relational health. 

Special Offer for Relational Health Coaching

Now through the end of the month (November, 2023) I have a special deep dive relational tune-up for you. Message me at [email protected] and let me know what shift you wish to manifest in your primary relationship and I’ll do my level best to guide you there. Mention “deep dive” for the special rate of $333 for a 3-hour Discovery & Breakthrough session. (Regularly $1,000).

Take good care of yourselves and spread Aloha. 

Kindly,

Amy E

Amy Elizabeth Gordon | Relationship Doula
Serving Hawai’i Island and beyond
808-936-3733

You matter. Your relationships matter.

clear your mind  
open your heart  
rekindle your spirit  
energize your life

Gravity always wins

Are you feeling in fit spiritual condition? This is the most important question you can ask yourself on a daily basis.

Everything is connected. How you start your day affects the rest of the day. How you go to sleep at night affects the start of the day. How you live the day affects how you go to sleep at night. It’s all connected.

So the common denominator of how we experience life (and how life experiences us) really is that spiritual connection to a higher power.

This spiritual connection is always reminding me I’m not alone, always reminding me of my intrinsic worthiness, and always embodying unconditional love.

Some days I choose to call this higher power God. Other days it’s the universal creative energy that connects us all. Some days it’s natural great beauty and the elements of the natural world.

And on days when everything feels a little less spiritually high vibe, my higher power is as simple as gravity.

Yes, GRAVITY. It’s a power greater than myself. It’s a power holding us all here, there’s no discrepancy there’s no preferential treatment, there’s no need to work harder to be held.

We are all held and we have a choice in front of us in every given moment to feel held or feel trapped.

We can choose to wrestle against the nature of gravity. I feel this sometimes when I don’t wanna get out of bed and the pillow goes on top of my head in a feeble attempt to try to block out the sunlight and the rooster and the snoring and the traffic (and the worrisome thoughts). 

So as you contemplate the ever present presence of gravity holding you here now in this moment, take a moment and get honest with yourself. Did you wrestle with gravity this morning? Or did you wake up, smile upon awakening before your feet hit the floor, and realize you’re alive for some reason?

Did you say thank you? Do this now, say thanks to your higher power and ask yourself, gently, what are you gonna do with your one wild and precious life?

I’ve been to hell and don’t want to go back. That is the essence of my spiritual development. So I surrender. 

Gravity always wins.

With much Aloha,

Amy Elizabeth

Relational Health Coach & Compassion Activist  

Invest in Yourself. You Matter. Your Relationships Matter. 

p.s. Surrender.

Let us surrender to win.

Let us surrender to success.